Category: DevBlog

Hello together,

this is a small update about the 3.week in april only. Because what we did is worth an update 🙂

Last week we worked hard on the loadingsystem of Summer Islands. Because createJS provides also the great PreloadJS JavaScript library. So for this mechanic we had to change a lot of things for example with the spriteSheets to some extra JSONs and so on. Especially with sounds in the future we have now the architecture to load all the files in the beginning to have everything in the cache.  We know, we should have done this month ago. Now i would say every Gamedeveloper needs to do this right away.

So for this loading time in the beginning we integrated a small preview movable animation. We can change this easily in the future if we create something better.

Additionally we use this black loading screen also if you start a match. But unless you play a bigger map the game needs only a few seconds to  initialize.

When everything is loaded an animation of the main menu starts. We do not really want to specify it. It’s just a simple animation. But it makes a good atmosphere and you like to play a match. 🙂

And now enjoy the start of the game:

In the next weeks we’re working hard for a stable version. But probably we need a few more weeks for that especially with the fine tuning. 🙂

Hello together,

i’m writing here from down under and today we have a bigger update to announce. In the last weeks we worked on a better illustration about the impact of a building to another one.

So if you build a building the building gets a normal popularity depending on the position of the building. But with a nomal popularity your earnings are only a little bit higher than your losses. So you can boost the popularity with the surrounded fields.

When you click on a building, the important fields are highlighted in three different colors (traffic Light principle). 2 fields in every direction. starting from the building. The other fields will get greyed out.

• RED (negative boost): All buildings that negatively affect the selected building
• YELLOW (neutral): All buildings that do not affect the selected building
• GREEN (positive boost):  All buildings that positively affect the selected building.

So for example we selected a tent in the middle of the screen. Streets are always bad fields. The Tourists don’t like to many streets around a building. So the streets are red highlighted.

The bigger hotel is highlighted in yellow. So it doesn’t effect the popularity from the tent. 

And in the end the green highlighted fields.  The empty fields are always good. The tourists like free fields to lie down. So they will give the building a boost and also the bike seller on the other side of the road.

Here you see some more examples from the Hotel:

and from the Airport:

Be aware that some buildings like the airport, harbors and so on, they don’t have the possibility to boost the popularity. Because there popularity only depends on the workload

Update Log:
– CLIENT added Colors Textures
– CLIENT nature Bug fixes
– CLIENT added surrounded building selektion
– CLIENT added grey out effect
– small javascript efficency corrections

Hello together,

after a small time of silence we have finally some news for you.

First of all. The silence came on one side from the bigger feature we have added the last weeks and on the other side from the Australia trip two of us do. But don’t worry. Like we already sad, the university is over so there is nothing we can’t do 🙂

Back to Summer Islands and the new features. We already announced to work on some new plants and environment stuff. In the last weeks we implemented it. We still have some trouble to re-calibrate the amount of plants and stuff on the Islands. But it gives you already a better atmosphere in the gameplay.

So which new plants are coming:

In the first row you see the bushes. They can grow and they are the first plants which starts to grow on an empty field.

The second row shows the different stones in the field. In a field with a stone a tourist can not lay down.

The third row gives you a look on the growth of a palm. From small in the beginning and sensitive for the tourists to the big ones in the next row.

In the fourth/fifth row yo see the big palms. For a better perspective we added a different shadow to the big plants.

The sixth we have something special for you. We created some mangrove. The trees will grow on the edge of the islands to the water. You already see the growing of these plants.

In the second last row you see the the growth of the normal trees. From small to the big ones in the last row. The trees will only grow in the higher levels and sometimes they have something special in it…..

So how will they look like in the gameplay. Here you can see a first impression and like we sad, it still needs some more recalibration:

In the next days we have some more news for you.

Update Log:
– CLIENT added more environment in texture
– CLIENT implementation of different plant Biome
– CLIENT plants growth differentations for efficency
– CLIENT restructured plantsimplementation to add easier more plants.
– small javascript efficency corrections

 

Hello together,

in the first weeks in march we worked on some new functions like demolition or sabotage. These functions are really important. Because…you know…if have to much money you can blow you enemy away. In Summer Islands sabotage is pretty expansive.

For the Beginning we added a bomb, sharks and bacterial for the hotels. With these you can  influence the popularity of the buildings. If it worked your enemy will earn much less money. Sabotage is really something you should only do if you have a lot money and need the space or the revenge. Since we have added these function we can add in the future more creative sabotage functions. You need more possibilities with your revenge.

Next to the sabotage functions/menu we added or renewed the demolition function with some effects. Just for now to have some effects. We will probably rebuild them too in the future.

Also to have a better overview about the cost of the demolition, sabotage or if you do terraforming you get a small sign next to the mouse with the costs on it. It is a pretty small feature but it will bring more transparency and a better traceability for you.

In the last post we wrote about new features/designs for the nature. We will do that now 🙂

Update Log:
– CLIENT/SERVER demolition function
– CLIENT/SERVER sabotage function
– CLIENT sabotage menu/effects
– CLIENT cost preview signs
– small javascript efficency corrections

Hello together,

these past few weeks in the end of february have been so hard. Not with Summer Islands but rather with the work next to Summer Islands. Espcecially with the end of the Masterthesis. But now it’s over and we can focus on new features for Summer Islands!!!

In the last weeks we focused a lot on improving the AI. Summer Islands isn’t only focusing on your economy and the weather conditions. The AI must challenge you and you should consider carefully to build something next to the AI or when you attack the reputation of them. We wanna build a realistic AI.
So in the first steps the AI will analyse a small part of the map and will create a little base, like you would do. For these few functions there is already a lot going on on the AI. To be a realistic AI, first they must build a few buildings, rethink the area and so on.

On the client side we implemented a zoom function. With you mousewheel you can zoom in and zoom out to the point where you coursor is. Now you have the possibility to watch all the small movements, for example from the cyclist.

or

In the next weeks we try to implement some new features for the nature. It will probably change the complete look of the nature.

Update Log:
– AI Area Analysation
– AI small Base building
– AI building connection streets
– AI terraforming for Buildings
– CLIENT Zoom in/out with your mousewheel

Hello together,

for everyone who missed our steampage release last week: store.steampowered.com/app/731650/Summer_Islands
It was only the steampage! But we got some nice feedback and a lot more attention than we thought.

Here you can see our Steampage visitors counter form the last 7 days:

Here you can see the countries from the visitors:

and in this chart you see the visitors from this page:

 

It’s very interesting to see these charts. We probably should do more for the languages implementation 🙂

Back to the Game:

Since we have the steampage we will provide the same blog updates on the steampage like here. Additionally  we reset the versionnumber to 0.0.0 for you to get a better overview about the history in the next months.

In the last week we worked on new Buildings like a Disco, climbing park and a new airport. Also we worked a lot on the movement of the planes, bikes and ships. We try to build the movement  as realistic as possible. We created new trees for the hills and the lying tourist. In the future the tourist will destroy smaller trees so that they can lay on the field.

In the end i wanna suggest you to add Summer Islands on your whislist on steam or to subscribe to our newsletter to stay tuned 🙂

Hello Together,

in the last weeks it was pretty quiet around Summer Islands.  That’s because on the other work we had to do next to the Game. But don’t worry:  The time will change that. In the next month we get started again with more content for you.

But let’s talk about what we did in the last weeks. First of all let me inform you that the AI is doing good progress. It is hard to show you some results, because the AI can cultivate some Islands but there’re still some bugs.

For you guys we integrated some moving palms and we really like the result. I think an important goal is that the World is alive!

Next to some smaller features for a better feeling in the gameplay, we also integrated some new textures like our bikes:

And don’t worry about the performance. The engine we use is createJS and with our achritecture we have a pretty stable game.

For the next weeks we wanna create a new Trailer for our steam page and we hope the page goes online after that.

But there’re still some really great features which are not implemented yet. So stay tuned for Summer Islands 🙂

p.s. you can subscribe to our Newsletter: http://summerislands.de/newsletter

Hello Together,

in the last weeks there was a lot going on next to Summer Islands. We’re students and we have still our work going on. BUT don’t worry! We’re planning and managing to create the game Summer Islands and we working all the time on new ideas and features for the game. SO be sure, there will be still some really greate features in the future.

But for now, may i present to you the new stuff in Summer Islands. We worked on new textures. A shop, an hotel and a Spa and so on. It’s great to see new content and see the game grow. Our AI specialist created a plan ‘what to do on the AI for an Alpha realease’. We have on the AI almost the basics done. It’s awesome to watch the AI to play the game. But fot the Early Acces we want to add more features. While you play, the AI musst be challenging you!

In the last weeks we tried to promote Summer Islands on IndieDB. But it didn’t worked out for us. We’re really thankfull for all your support and for your vote. Maybe next year with Early Access on steam 🙂

And in the end we wish you all the best for the XMAS holidays and the best for 2018.
We will try our best to improve Summer Islands and hopefully soon on Early Access on steam 🙂

See you next Year!

Hello together,

we mentioned it already in the last post. we created a new design and after that a new Logo:

We hope you like it.

Now to another subject. On every beach for tourists you find them and in Summer Islands we didn’t forget them.
Tourist on the beach.

On the picture you see some of them. They will appear around a house or hotel if they like it.
So in Summer Islands you have to find the best place for the buildings and also the building around the building. Every building has his requirements.

After the tourists we worked on some weather disasters. This is pretty important, because the weather disasters and the AI are your enemies. You have to work with them.

On the last weekend we red about the indiedb gaming award 2017. Here is a link to our Summer Islands page. Please feel free to vote there.

Like we mentioned it in the last post, we work in our free time on Summer Islands. So next to the masterthesis or work. That means we try our best for new features, but maybe a little bit slower you want it. Be patient and thanks for your support for Summer Islands.